Urea: What Is It? Why Is It in Cosmetics? Why Avoid it?

Urea, CO(NH2)2, brings advantages to multiple fields. In agriculture, it can be a go-to fertilizer, providing essential nitrogen. And, yes, somehow a nitrogen-aiding fertilizer ingredient finds its way into cosmetics: Urea acts as a humectant, attracting and retaining moisture in the skin. This makes urea a popular ingredient in moisturizers, creams, and other skincare and cosmetic formulas. These humectant properties can help prevent makeup from drying out, ensuring a smooth application. Urea can also help produce an even makeup texture, making foundation and other products glide on smoothly.

Despite the benefit of urea being a humectant, some may experience sensitivity or irritation when using products with urea, especially if they have sensitive skin.

Fortunately, the beauty world offers a range of alternative humectants that can provide similar benefits. Ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or natural plant extracts like aloe vera can offer hydration and moisture retention properties without the use of urea. Thank you, mother nature! Because Heal Yes! caters to those with especially sensitive skin, we avoid urea in all formulas; Heal Yes! never uses urea.